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Professional Ratings

The Good

Excellent chassis (with the right equipment)

Huge variety of models

Eye-popping diesel MPG

The Bad

Gran Turismo's awkward proportions

Annoying auto stop/start system

Luxury version not quite up to snuff

Overall Rating

Not yet rated

2014 bmw 3-series Reviews and News

2014 BMW 3 Series

By
Joe Lorio
- 09/10/2013

New For 2014

The 3 Series adds the Gran Turismo body style and a new four-cylinder diesel to the burgeoning lineup. The Gran Turismo is a sloped-roof four-door hatchback in the vein of the 5 Series Gran Turismo. It comes only as a 328i or a 335i, both with standard xDrive. The new diesel, in the 328d, is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder unit rated at 180 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. It is paired only with the eight-speed automatic transmission. The 328d can be had as a rear-wheel-drive sedan, an all-wheel-drive sedan, or an all-wheel-drive wagon. Fuel economy is spectacular: the rear-wheel-drive sedan gets 32 mpg city and 45 mpg highway; all-wheel drive subtracts 1 mpg city and 2 highway mpg from those figures.

Vehicle Summary

The 3 Series is the heart and soul of BMW. It also has been the benchmark car in its category ever since it was first introduced in 1975. Until this year, the 3-series family included sedan, coupe, convertible, and wagon versions. A big change for 2014 is that BMW has split off the two-door coupe, giving it the new 4 Series label. (The convertible will be introduced soon as a 4 Series as well.) The 3 Series remains available as a four-door sedan, a wagon, and a new four-door hatchback (Gran Turismo). Currently absent from the lineup is the enthusiasts' favorite, the M3, but it should return sometime during 2014.

Overview

The BMW 3 Series has long been the most sporting entry-luxury sedan, but the latest version has been diluted somewhat by an attempt to broaden its base. The suspension is softer and the steering is lighter. However, keen drivers can fix both issues, and still get the 3 Series of their dreams. Switching BMW's driving dynamics control mode from comfort to sport helps, although you must select it again each time you start the car. Better to opt for the M sport suspension (part of the sport package), or the dynamic handling package, which includes the adaptive M suspension and variable sport steering.

The harder decision is which powertrain to choose. Those stretching their budget to get into a 3 Series will be drawn to the new entry-level model, the 320i, which costs more than $4000 less than a 328i. The downside is that the 320i's 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder makes only 180 hp -- down from 240 hp in the 328i. Just like the 328i and the 328d, the 320i allows buyers to swap in a six-speed manual transmission in place of the standard eight-speed automatic as a no-cost option. It also can be had with xDrive all-wheel drive (but only with an automatic transmission).

The 328i's gutsy turbo four manages decent gas mileage with a combined city/highway EPA rating of 27 mpg -- too bad it sounds like a diesel at idle. BMW now offers an actual four-cylinder diesel, the 328d, which is equipped similarly to the 328i but costs $1500 more. You should recoup that premium pretty quickly, however, as the 328d gets spectacular mileage. The 328i and the 328d are available as a sedan (with rear-wheel drive or xDrive) or as an all-wheel-drive sport wagon.

The classic BMW in-line six-cylinder engine, turbocharged to deliver 300 hp, powers the 335i, either as a sedan or the Gran Turismo. This is the most potent 3 Series variant, at least until the M3 returns to the lineup in mid 2014. The 335i is also the only 3 Series sedan where one can combine xDrive and a manual transmission.

You'll like:

Excellent chassis (with the right equipment)

Huge variety of models

Eye-popping diesel MPG

You won't like:

Gran Turismo's awkward proportions

Annoying auto stop/start system

Luxury version not quite up to snuff

Key Competitors

Audi A4

Infiniti Q50

Lexus IS

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

2014 BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo Review

By
Michael Jordan
- 01/28/2014

Seattle, Washington - Yes, we’ll admit that the 2014 BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo is the duckbill platypus of the BMW line. It’s as if Mother Nature took a 3 Series sedan into her hands, tugged and pulled at it for a while, then set it down and shrugged her shoulders. And yet for all this, we’ve had two people (no, actually it’s three) come right up and tell us that this is exactly the BMW that they’re looking for.

The 2014 BMW 3 Series gains some more standard equipment for the new model year, but also drops one of its previous trim levels. Going forward, the 2014 BMW 3 Series will no longer offer the "Modern Line" trim, leaving just the Sport Line, Luxury Line, and M Sport trims.
New standard equipment across all versions of the 2014 BMW 3 Series includes a sport leather-wrapped steering wheel, dark burled walnut wood trim, BMW TeleServices, and BMW Assist eCall. The iDrive infotainment system has been upgraded to the latest software version and now has a touchpad controller for "writing" letters and numbers. On Sport Line cars, the Dakota leather Everest Grey option is discontinued while Fineline Anthracite wood trim becomes a no-cost option.
Pricing for the 2014 BMW 3 Series starts at $33,675 (including a $925 destination charge) for the 320i sedan, which has a 2.0-liter turbo-four engine rated for 180 hp. The all-wheel-drive 320i xDrive costs $35,675. The 328i sedan, which has a 240-hp 2.0-liter turbo-four engine, starts at $38,225 with rear-wheel drive and $40,225 with xDrive. The 335i sedan, which uses a 300-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine, costs $44,325 while the xDrive version is $46,325.
The 2014 BMW 328d sedan, which has a turbodiesel engine rated for 32/45 mpg (city/highway), costs $39,525 with rear-wheel drive and $41,525 with xDrive. The 328d wagon, available only with xDrive, costs $43,875. The ActiveHybrid 3, which is rated for mpg, costs $50,825.
BMW also sells the 3 Series as a traditional station wagon, called the Sport Wagon, and as the Gran Turismo model. Buyers will pay $42,375 for the 2014 BMW 328i xDrive Sports Wagon. The 328i xDrive Gran Turismo is $42,375 and the 335i xDrive Gran Turismo costs $46,775.
Production of the BMW 3 Series coupe ended in June as the model will be replaced by the 2014 BMW 4 Series coupe. BMW will stop building the 3 Series convertible this month and replace it with the 2014 BMW 4 Series convertible.

This week's Rumors Video Roundup is short but sweet. If you're a fan of European high-performance, prepare to feast your eyes on such pedigree hardware as the Bentley Mulsanne Le Mans edition, a tease of the upcoming BMW M4 Coupe, Cadillac's new ATS facing off against its arch-nemesis, the BMW 335i, and finally, The Ferrari 458 enhanced by the renowned Texas tuner Hennessey Performance.

On this week's episode of Head 2 Head, Motor Trend's Mike Febbo hits the road to find out if Cadillac or BMW can make the better tuner car. Representing Bavaria is the European Car-tuned BMW 335i, while Motor City is covered by the D3 Cadillac ATS 3.6.

BMW announced last year that it would be bringing a more efficient 328d diesel model to the U.S., and the EPA has now released fuel economy estimates for this model. The 2014 BMW 328d sedan is rated at 32/45/37 mpg city/highway/combined when equipped with rear-wheel drive, the 2.0-liter turbo diesel four-cylinder, and an eight-speed automatic. The all-wheel-drive BMW 328d sedan and wagon receive slightly lower estimates of 31/43/35 mpg.

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